Effects of high fat diet on kidney lipid content and the Na, K-ATPase activity

ABSTRACT It is widely known that high fat diet (HFD) can contribute to the advent of health problems. Recent studies have indicated that obesity imposes a hemodynamic overload to the kidneys. In order to further investigate such injuries, two groups of six Swiss mice each were fed with a controlled AIN93G diet or a high fat (AIN93G modified) diet for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected to determine the hormonal, lipid profile, glucose, urea, and creatinine levels. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were carried out to analysis the kidney damage. Fractions of renal membranes were prepared to assess the Na,K-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol, and phospholipid content. The results indicated that the blood lipid profile, urea and creatinine was not altered by the HFD. On the other hand, it was observed in HFD diet mice elevated glucose blood levels along with an augment on insulin and a decrease on corticosterone release. HFD provoked a reduction in the diameter of the convoluted tubules and cell volume in Bowman's capsule and an increased number of positive cells with Na,K-ATPase, but reduced the Na,K-ATPase activity and the cholesterol content in the kidney cell membrane but favored the lipid peroxidation.

Bioética e doação de órgãos no Brasil: aspectos éticos na abordagem à família do potencial doador / Bioética y donación de órganos en el Brasil: enfoque ético a la familia del posible donante / Bioethics and organ donation in Brazil: ethical aspects in approaching the potential donor's family

Este artigo consiste em reflexão teórica que pretende identificar questões éticas que poderiam influenciar nas taxas de consentimento de familiares em relação à doação de órgãos. Identificou-se como principal questão ética a falta de esclarecimentos durante o processo de obtenção do consentimento junto ao familiar, sendo identificadas como deficientes as informações acerca do diagnóstico de morte encefálica, a aparência e a desfiguração do corpo. Também se constatou que outros aspectos éticos podem influenciar neste processo, tais como o respeito ao momento que o familiar vivencia, às suas crenças e valores, bem como o acolhimento e a disponibilidade por parte do entrevistador e a garantia de que o familiar tenha escolhido a alternativa mais adequada para a situação. Portanto, ressalta-se a importância de profissionais de saúde capacitados para a abordagem ao familiar, visando, com isto, maior aceitação e uma assistência pautada na ética.

Este artículo es una reflexión teórica que trata de identificar las cuestiones éticas que podrían influir en las tasas de consentimiento de la familia respecto a la donación de órganos. Se identificó como la principal cuestión ética la falta de esclarecimiento en el proceso de obtención del consentimiento de la familia y se identifican como deficientes las informaciones sobre el diagnóstico de muerte cerebral, la apariencia y la desfiguración del cuerpo. También se encontró que otras cuestiones éticas también pueden influir en este proceso, tales como el respeto al momento que está viviendo la familia, sus creencias y valores, así como la acogida y el hecho de que el entrevistador esté disponible y la garantía de que el familiar haya escogido la alternativa más adecuada para la situación. Por lo tanto, debe hacerse hincapié en la importancia de los profesionales de salud capacitados para el acercamiento a la familia, visando así una mayor aceptación y una asistencia pautada en la ética.

This article is a theoretical reflection aiming at identifying the ethical issues that might influence on family?s consent rates regarding organ donation. The lack of clarification during the process of obtaining consent from the family was identified as the main ethical issue and information on brain death diagnosis, corpse?s appearance and disfigurement were identified as deficient. It was found that other ethical issues may also influence this process, such as respect for the moment lived by family member, to his beliefs and values, as well as interviewer?s reception and availability, in addition to the assurance that the family has chosen the most appropriate alternative for the situation. Therefore, one emphasizes the importance of health professionals trained to approach the family, aiming, thus, at greater acceptance and an assistance guided by ethics.